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Topic: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity? (Read 927 times) previous topic - next topic

How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

We're just about ready to go but still have to figure out the best way to connect for data. I'm really just interested in cell rather than wifi. In the past we've just used a MiFi on Verizon but it was a pretty poor solution when boondocking so this time we want to go with an antenna and some boost. So what do you think of this setup?
* Wilson Omni Trucker Antenna
* Wilson Amp (811201, not 4G)
* Millenicom MiFi with the 20 gig plan
The antenna would be hard wired to the amp and the MiFi also wired to the amp. Thanks.

(We use a couple of laptops, two iPads and a printer along with an iPhone and a Droid.)
jor
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Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #1 –
Quote from: jor –
So what do you think of this setup?
jor
Jor,
I would check over on the Escapees forum. There is an internet discussion thread that has several very knowledgeable people that can also help.
Good luck,
Rick
Rick

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #2 –
Howdy Jor, 
    You may be aware that the newer MiFi's can accept an external antenna input.  I bought this antenna from the 3gstore and mounted to the crank-up OTA mast.  It really helps the MiFi reception.  Outdoor Omni 3G/4G Antenna, 9.5 inches, 93 Reviews : 3Gstore.com

I mounted to the antenna mast, ran the cable inside, connected to the MiFi and leave the MiFi in the front electronic cabinets.

Good Luck, Dave A

Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #3 –
For those of us not (yet) full timing, it's a lot less expensive to "tether" our tablets and laptops to our smartphones instead of paying a monthly fee for a MiFi (or equivalent). This allows us to create a WiFi router from our data-enabled smartphones; but it does cost extra. Usually about $20 a month....

Unless you have Verizon 4G LTE and an Android phone. Seems that Verizon managed to get some spectrum from the Feds that was supposed to be "open" and last summer they had to pay a hefty fine (at least hefty to folks like me) and agree to not block or hinder the open-source (e.g.: Free) tethering applications.

FoxFi and PDAnet were both popular but Verizon had been blocking them. As of the settlement in the FCC vs. Verizon case, they cannot block tethering apps. Although they did, for a while, last January/February but got caught and had to stop (again).

So if you have a Verizon smartphone you can get PDAnet and use it. You will have to "jailbreak" your iPhone but you won't have to do anything to your Android (Samsung, Motorola 'Droid, etc.) at all. Works like a champ. I used it last weekend while I was at a kayak paddle-fest to get some remote work done in a server; and they paid me to do it. :D

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #4 –
Quote
I bought this antenna from the 3gstore
Dave, someone else mentioned using only the antenna (no amp). Thanks. How did you run the cable from the batwing?
jor
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Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #5 –
Quote
So if you have a Verizon smartphone you can get PDAnet and use it.
Craig, that's what we were doing before with a mifi but with a lot of state and national park and boon docking, we were dissatisfied with our connections. Re PDAnet, I used to use that a couple of years ago but, unless I'm mistaken, both my Droid and my wife's iPhone have the hotspot app built in. Thanks.
jor
93 225
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99 320

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #6 –
Yes, they have a hotspot built in. But you may well have to pay to use it. Not so with PDAnet tethered.

In my case I have PDAnet on a Droid X with unlimited data plan...

best, paul

Quote
Re PDAnet, I used to use that a couple of years ago but, unless I'm mistaken, both my Droid and my wife's iPhone have the hotspot app built in. Thanks.
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Paul Smith –
Yes, they have a hotspot built in. But you may well have to pay to use it. Not so with PDAnet tethered.

In my case I have PDAnet on a Droid X with unlimited data plan...

VZW Hotspot is free if you have a limited data plan; is extra if you have a grandfathered unlimited plan like Paul and we do.

We use the paid-for FoxFi app which provides a wireless hotspot; I seem to recall FoxFi and PDAnet combined forces this year.

-M
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Michelle –
We use the paid-for FoxFi app which provides a wireless hotspot; I seem to recall FoxFi and PDAnet combined forces this year.

You are right.... PDAnet and FoxFi are now under the same roof. But the app still looks like FoxFi (and, in fact, on my 'Droid it's still the FoxFi app that works).

Last winter VZW was cleverly disconnecting the complete cell link, data and phone, after about 15 minutes of tethering; the link would only return if you stopped the tethering app. I tried it a few times and it happened 100% of the time after about January 20th. As soon as the tethering app was stopped the link came right back. Several of us reported this to some attorneys who said that they thought doing that was a violation of the settlement agreement. About a week later it stopped.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #9 –
@Jor,
    I mounted the antenna to the OTA mast, ran the cable inside the mast.  I ran the cable along side the OTA coax and came through the coach roof using the OTA coax entry point.  Then, just routed Cell antenna cable to the MiFi.  I have the MiFi semi-permanent in the front, overhead electronic cabinet.
  This Cell antenna works very well for us.  When I first installed, we were in a COE park in east Texas.  The original signal was 1-2 bars 3g.  Connected the antenna, immediately had 3-4 bars 4g.  This was an easy and in-expensive (for coaches) upgrade.
Good Luck,  Dave A
Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #10 –
@Jor,  Here's a few photos...Dave A
Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #11 –
Is the flat object on the top the OTA antenna?

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #12 –
Howdy Paul, 
    Yes, that is the "Jack" over the air antenna.  One of the very best (and least expensive) upgrades we've done to the coach.  It REALLY works well.  I believe if we spent all our time east of the Mississippi, I would do away with our Dish Satellite.  Lots of station in the East.

ttyl,  Dave A

Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #13 –
David, how did you run the second coax through the TV antenna roof plate. Did you find on that would take two antennas?
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #14 –
Howdy Kent,
    Just drilled another hole adjacent to the existing Coax, routed cable through the plate, roof, and down in the cabinet.  I used lots of caulking (urethane of course!! LOL) around the hole in the plate and then monitored for any leaking water.
Hope all is well with you guys,  Dave A
Dave and Nancy Abel
'00 U320 36' WTFE  Build #5669
'10 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Livingston, TX  SKP's Fulltiming

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #15 –
Quote from: Dave and Nancy Abel –
Howdy Paul, 
    Yes, that is the "Jack" over the air antenna.  One of the very best (and least expensive) upgrades we've done to the coach.  It REALLY works well.  I believe if we spent all our time east of the Mississippi, I would do away with our Dish Satellite.  Lots of station in the East.

ttyl,  Dave A



You'll be able to get rid of Dish soon enuf.  More and more TV is going to the Internet.

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: How About this Setup for Cellular Connectivity?

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Paul Smith –
You'll be able to get rid of Dish soon enuf.  More and more TV is going to the Internet.

best, paul

Doesn't streaming videos Take up a lot of bandwidth? Don't think I could afford my Verizon account streaming TV shows.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers